Lobelia plant named ‘Weslowat’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lobelia  plant named ‘Weslowat’, characterized by its cascading plant habit; freely branching habit with short internodes; continuously and freely flowering habit; densely pubescent leaves; light blue-colored flowers; and relatively tolerant to high temperatures.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Lobelia erinus Weslowat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lobeliaplant, botanically known as Lobelia erinus, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Weslowat’.

The new Lobelia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Südlohn, Germany. The objective of the breeding programwas to develop new Lobelia cultivars with continuous flowering,interesting flower colors and tolerance to high temperatures.

The new Lobelia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventorin 2002 of a proprietary selection of Lobelia erinus identified as codenumber 01P050, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Lobelia erinus identified as code number01P212, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lobeliawas discovered and selected by the Inventor from within the resultantprogeny from the above-mentioned cross-pollination in a controlledenvironment in Südlohn, Germany in 2002.

Asexual reproduction since 2002 of the new cultivar by terminal cuttingsin a controlled environment in Südlohn, Germany, has shown that theunique features of this new Lobelia are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Weslowat’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Weslowat’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Cascading plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit with short internodes.    -   3. Continuously and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Densely pubescent leaves.    -   5. Light blue-colored flowers.    -   6. Relatively tolerant to high temperatures.

Plants of the new Lobelia have larger flowers than plants of the femaleparent, a proprietary selection identified as code number 01P050. Inaddition, plants of the new Lobelia produce flowers that differ in colorfrom the female parent selection. Plants of the new Lobelia have foliagewith dense pubescence compared to the smooth foliage of plants of themale parent, a proprietary selection identified as code number 01P508.In addition, plants of the new Lobelia have thicker stems and lighterblue-colored flowers than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the cultivar Weslowat can be compared to the cultivarWeslowei, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,708. However inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of thecultivar Weslowat and the cultivar Weslowei differed in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves and stems of plants of the new Lobelia were more        pubescent than plants of the cultivar Weslowei.    -   2. Plants of the new Lobelia flowered more continuously than        plants of the cultivar Weslowei.    -   3. Plants of the new Lobelia and the cultivar Weslowei differed        in flower color.    -   4. Plants of the new Lobelia had smaller flowers than plants of        the cultivar Weslowei.    -   5. Plants of the new Lobelia were more tolerant to high        temperatures than plants of the cultivar Weslowei.

Plants of the new Lobelia can also be compared to plants of the cultivarWeslobigblue, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,634. However, inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of thenew Lobelia differed from plants of the cultivar Weslobigblue in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia were more compact than plants of        the cultivar Weslobigblue.    -   2. Leaves and stems of plants of the new Lobelia were more        pubescent than leaves and stems of plants of the cultivar        Weslobigblue.    -   3. Plants of the new Lobelia had smaller flowers than plants of        the cultivar Weslobigblue.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Lobelia lighter blue in color        than flowers of plants of the cultivar Weslobigblue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Lobelia.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up view of atypical individual flower of ‘Weslowat’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises side view of atypical plant of ‘Weslowat’ grown in a hanging basket container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar Weslowat have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for thedescription were grown in a glass-covered greenhouse and conditions thatclosely approximate commercial production conditions during the springand summer in Südlohn, Germany. Plants used for the above-mentionedphotographs and following description were grown as one plant per 12-cmcontainer or three plants per 25-cm hanging basket container. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20 to 25° C. andnight temperatures ranged from 16 to 18° C. Plants were pinched onceduring the production period by removing about 1 to 2 cm of theuppermost apical growing tip. Plants were about 20 weeks from plantingwhen the photographs and description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Lobelia erinus cultivar Weslowat.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Lobelia erinus            identified as code number 01P050, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Lobelia erinus            identified as code number 01P212, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 18 to 21 days at 20° C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About 20 to 28 days at 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous and well-branched.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/habit.—Cascading flowering plants with light            blue-colored flowers. Lateral shoots outwardly spreading;            plants uniform with dense foliage. Foliage and stems are            very pubescent. Freely branching with lateral branches            forming at every node; dense and bushy plant habit. Pinching            plants enhances branching. Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes and            patio containers.        -   Plant height (soil level to top of plant plane).—About 12            cm.        -   Plant length (soil level to lateral branches apices).—About            47 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 40 to 45 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 19.2 cm. Diameter:            About 1.1 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm. Texture: Densely            pubescent. Color: 138A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Basal            leaves: Length: About 5 cm. Width: About 3.6 cm. Shape:            Nearly round. Apex: Retuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Slightly crenate. Petiole length: About 1.7 mm. Mid-plant            leaves: Length: About 3.8 cm. Width: About 2.1 cm. Shape:            Ovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Crenate.            Petiole length: About 8.6 mm. Apical leaves: Length: About            2.8 cm. Width: About 5.8 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex:            Slightly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Mostly entire.            Petiole length: Petioles not observed. Texture, all leaves,            upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent. Color, all            leaves: Developing foliage, upper surface: 137A. Developing            foliage, lower surface: 138B. Fully developed foliage, upper            surface: 147A; venation, 147B. Fully developed foliage,            lower surface: 147B; venation, 147B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Flowers arranged singly at lateral            apices. Flowers held mostly outwardly. Flowers persistent.            Older flowers are overgrown by new flowers and foliage.            Freely and continuously flowering. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Flower shape.—Tubular with three larger lower petals and two            upright petals.        -   Natural flowering season.—Spring until frost in the autumn.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Longevity of individual            flowers is highly dependent on weather conditions; typically            three to ten days.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 1.7 cm. Depth (height): About            1.6 cm. Tube length: About 7 mm. Throat diameter, distal            end: About 3.9 mm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About 2.7            mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Shape: Oblong. Color: Base, 145C to 145D; towards the apex,            close to 145C to 145D; color becoming closer to 115C to 115D            with development.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five petals, fused;            three larger lower petals and two smaller upper petals.            Three lower petals: Shape: Obovate. Length, above throat:            About 1 cm. Width: About 5.4 mm. Two upper petals: Shape:            Spatulate. Length, above throat: About 5.3 mm. Width: About            2 mm. Upper and lower petals: Apex: Cuspidate to rounded.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            satiny. Color: When opening, upper surface: 97A. When            opening, lower surface: 97A to 97B. Fully opened, upper            surface: 97A; towards the base of the lower petals, close to            155D. Fully opened, lower surface: 97B to 97C. Throat: 97C            to 97D; stripes, 144A, and spots, 95B. Tube: 96D to 97B;            spots, 96C and 144B.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five sepals,            star-shaped calyx. Length: About 5.8 mm. Width: About            9.2 mm. Shape: Triangular. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: 147A.        -   Peduncles.—Appearance: Wiry. Length: About 2 cm. Diameter:            About 7 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 137A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About            five, fused. Anther length: About 1.9 mm. Anther diameter:            About 1 mm. Anther color: 186A and 186C. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: 8A. Pistils: Quantity per flower:            One. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Two-parted,            ovate. Stigma texture: Pubescent. Stigma color, immature:            186A. Stigma color, mature: 81B. Style length: About 3.6 mm.            Style color: 145A. Ovary color: 145A. Seed/fruit: Seed and            fruit production have not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Lobelia have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lobelia.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Lobelia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures ranging from 2 to 30° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant named ‘Weslowat’, asillustrated and described.